The Ministry of Environmental Protection and the Israel Land Authority (ILA) announce today (02/04) that during recent preliminary soil investigations at the former Dov Haza site in tel aviv, PFAS compounds (Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) were discovered, originating from the years of use of firefighting foams.
Following the findings, the Ministry and the ILA are working to professionally manage the risk, including expanding soil investigations and examining the impact of the contamination on the beach and the sea – all with the aim of protecting public health and the environment.
The site served for decades as a military and civilian airport. Between 2020 and 2023, it underwent a soil investigation and remediation process. The process was approved by the Ministry according to the professional requirements for soil investigation and remediation that were in effect at the time. It should be noted that at that time, the Ministry did not have a mandatory policy for addressing PFAS contaminants in soils, and therefore these substances were not tested or treated as part of the Dov Haza soil remediation project.
Following a directive from the Water Authority, groundwater investigations were conducted in the site area between 2022 and 2025, and their findings indicated that PFAS concentrations exceeding the threshold values for drinking water exist. It should be emphasized that the groundwater contamination at the site does not pose a danger to water sources used for drinking water production. However, the groundwater contamination is a risk to the environment, given that the site is designated for residential construction. During the work, contaminated soils may be removed from the area to various unauthorized end-use destinations, which could create a risk to water sources, especially due to the proximity to the coast and the sea and potential damage to this environment.
Following these findings, the Ministry of Environmental Protection has begun immediate steps to examine the extent of the contamination and risk:
- Conducting sample tests in the soil at development depths to examine the contaminant distribution profile in the various soil layers down to development depths
- Conducting sample tests in the beach sand
- A rapid study to determine risk-based threshold values for the remediation of soil contaminated with PFAS components
The Ministry of Environmental Protection and the ILA emphasize that the implementation of all actions will be subject to strict supervision and that this is a preventive step designed to provide certainty to developers and ensure thorough and in-depth treatment of the contamination, while protecting public health and the environment. The Ministry and the ILA will continue to update the public as needed.
Avi Haim, Senior Deputy Director for Licensing and Risk Prevention (Acting) at the Ministry of Environmental Protection: “The Ministry of Environmental Protection is acting immediately to manage the risks by expanding the investigation of contamination in the area, providing professional guidance, and conducting expanded monitoring in the site area and on the beach. The Ministry will continue to act in cooperation with the ILA and all relevant parties, while protecting public health and the environment.”
Tali Morali, Tel Aviv District Manager, Israel Land Authority: “Out of responsibility for public health, the Israel Land Authority will act in close coordination and cooperation with all relevant parties, primarily the Ministry of Environmental Protection. The Authority is committed to operating transparently with the public and the contractors who won the tenders and will update according to developments and findings. The Authority sees national importance in promoting development in the Dov Haza district and adding thousands of housing units in central Tel Aviv, while fully balancing development needs, environmental protection, and safeguarding public health.”
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